Jets’ QB Sanchez hits mark in debut

The Jets invested a lot of money, a lot of hope and a lot of confidence in rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. They think he’s got what it takes to make it in New York, New York.

“I don’t think he’s afraid of the big stage at all,” Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said after the team traded up to take Sanchez fifth overall in this year’s draft.

The former USC signal-caller, who already has a shirtless GQ spread in his portfolio, certainly has charisma and looks, and based on his performance last week in his NFL debut against the Texans, poise, presence and talent, too.

The first Jets rookie quarterback to start a game in 32 seasons, Sanchez completed 18 of 31 passes for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the Jets’ 24-7 win.

“He’s been good,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s got a good arm, athletic guy. He’s getting the ball to all his receivers. He seems to manage the team well. (Coordinator) Brian Schottenheimer’s offense is a pretty sophisticated one and he looks pretty comfortable handling it. He’s done a good job.”

But now comes the real test. The Patriots travel to the Meadowlands for an AFC East clash with the Jets Sunday and we all know Belichick’s past reputation for torturing first-year QBs with his defensive schemes.

“They know how to give quarterbacks fits and disrupt game plans,” Sanchez said, “so we need to be prepared for the best.”

The Patriots record against rookie quarterbacks under Belichick is 5-1. Ben Roethlisberger was the one to beat the Pats, on Halloween 2004. The other five combined for a 49 percent completion percentage, 3 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Patriots defense, which underwent a pretty significant transformation heading into the season, will be without another key performer Sunday. Linebacker Jerod Mayo is expected to be out 6-8 weeks with what is reportedly a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

“People are talking about how they lost all their great players in (Tedy) Bruschi and (Mike) Vrabel and Rodney Harrison,” Sanchez said, “but this kind of team, and the coaching staff they have, they’re the kind of team that rebuilds and plugs another guy into their system and they just know how to play and they draft the right players with the right attitudes. They know how to play in big games and that’s a tribute to their coaching staff.”

Sanchez made 16 starts at USC and, much to the dismay of Trojans coach Pete Carroll, left for the NFL with one year of college eligibility remaining. He signed a five-year, $50 million contract with the Jets, the richest deal in team history.

He had a rough preseason outing against Baltimore, but, after being named the Jets No. 1 quarterback on Aug. 26, bounced back with a fine performance against the Giants in the third exhibition game.

Last week against Houston, Sanchez was 12 of 15 for 191 yards and a 30-yard TD pass to Chansi Stuckey on third down.

Jets coach Rex Ryan overall was pleased with the quarterback’s decision making and impressed with his pocket presence.

“It was outstanding,” Ryan said. “I expected him to be good, but wow. Just the way he was able to slide, step up, back, just the different things. Tom Brady is the best in the league at it and Peyton Manning.

“He clearly has that kind of poise,” Ryan said, “and he’s got that awareness that it takes to be a successful quarterback. That’s critical.”

Sanchez said practicing all summer against the Jets highly-regarded, physical and blitz-happy defense has helped his development.

“I didn’t understand how much it would help until we started playing in these regular-season games and understanding how difficult our defensive scheme is to play against, while you’re trying to learn an offense,” Sanchez said. “I mean it was tough. Those summer practices were not fun. I was having a great time being in the NFL and practicing with these All-Pros, Pro Bowl guys and then I’d come out here and get picked off all summer. It was just difficult, but now I’m starting to understand as I’m getting our offense down a little bit, little by little each week how difficult that was and what a challenge that was as a rookie.”